Audrey Moran: 'Big Thinker' Wants to Bring New Vision to Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Audrey Moran says she has a long term vision for Jacksonville.

"Right now our community is a bit adrift. What are our priorities? Where are we going? What do we want to be? And I want to think big," she said.

The Republican former assistant state attorney and mother of four said she doesn't want to punch a clock in the mayor's office.

"In this election, some people may want a city manager - to balance the books and keep the trains on the tracks. I'm not a city manager. I'm a big thinker," she said.

Moran said she wants to hit the ground running with a small business summit, a new downtown authority and comprehensive reform to public education funding within her first 100 days.
But her focus will be on the schools, she said.

"Our state constitution says that public education needs to be an absolute priority for the state of Florida," she said.

Moran acknowledges that will be difficult under Gov. Rick Scott's proposed cuts, but said she's willing to travel to Tallahassee to make the case for Jacksonville schools.

And her outspoken nature is what's lacking in the current administration, she said. "I believe there needs to be a higher level of communication with this community about where we want to go and what our priorities are."

In this election she's aiming high, she said. "To be the best place in America to live, work and raise your family. That would be a reputation we could all be proud of."